<p>I'm a freshman about to start as a member of the class of 2010. I was looking at Wellesley's requirements and I saw that you must take 4 semesters of foreign language (I know that the actual requirement is two second year semesters but I will start in 101 and have no foreign language AP credits or SAT scores). Is there a way to get out of this requirement, (i.e. a summer immersion program or a study abroad program that is equivelent.) I'm just really bad at foreign languages and I'd rather not take 2 years of it. Any ideas?</p>
<p>Either way, you are going to have to take what Wellesley considers the equivalent of two years of forgien language in any program you could otherwise find. I'm not sure what Wellesley's policy is towards outside programs- if you can find one you would rather do, you could probably enquire to an APT, a dean, the department in question, or the registrar (not sure which). I know a Wellesley student who took Japanese at Middlebury as part of a summer program. However, this person took 101-102 at Wellesley, did the equivalent of 201-202 at Midd, and took more Wellesley Japanese, then went to Japan for two semesters. I'm assuming she'll take yet more Japanese classes in the fall. Last time I checked she was a major One third year class knocks out the FL requirement as well, so the Middlebury program was unnecessary to cover it. I don't know if she would stop there.</p>
<p>If you were to go to Puebla, Mexico or Aix, France for all or part of your junior year, you would have to have already passed the two years that you would have taken from scratch. </p>
<p>I believe the Spanish department offers their second year (201-202) as part of the Wellesley summer school. The wintersession course schedule does not come out until it's almost time for spring registration. But there are classes offered then, and some abroad (I think German 101, French 201, Spanish 202, and Russian 101). Both options are attractive if you wish to spend your credits during the year on other parts of the curriculum. As these are Wellesley progams, the credits will transfer.</p>
<p>Certain depts, (French, Italian) offer one semester versions of 101-102 and/or 201-202 called 103 and 203. But if you are not good at foreign languages as you say, I would not recommend the intensive route.</p>
<p>To echo WendyMouse: no, there's no way around it unless you take the intensive intro courses and/or skip semesters in the sequence. As she pointed out, you have to pass certain prerequisites in order to go to the Wellesley-sponsored programs abroad--and most of those prereqs are third-year level.</p>
<p>On the other hand, two years really isn't that bad. Honestly. I took four semesters of French, and it was just fine. It didn't crowd out other courses I wanted to take, and it didn't steal my soul. It was a good experience, on the whole. Choose something that looks interesting and give it a whirl. If you're really concerned about learning a new language, stick to the European languages; at least the grammar, structure, alphabet, and worldview will be somewhat familiar. On the other hand, I've heard nothing but amazing things about the Russian department.</p>
<p>If you think you can teach yourself (in the next three(?) weeks) enough of a language to place into the second year, go for it and take the placement exam. The worst they can say is that you need to be in 101. But, seriously, four semesters is not as big of a hassle as you might think. Plenty of other students will be in exactly the same boat as you.</p>
<p>ETA:
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I'm just really bad at foreign languages and I'd rather not take 2 years of it.
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</p>
<p>All the more reason to take two years of it.</p>